Have you ever visited a national park? According to data released by the National Parks Partnership, the UK national parks are visited about 90 million times each year. 1 National parks remain one of the most popular places to visit for recreation purposes due to their accessibility, rich history, and breathtaking landscapes and views.
In this article, we will explore what makes each of the UK’s national parks unique and why protecting them is essential to preserving their beauty for future generations.
🏞️ What Are National Parks?
What makes the UK’s National Parks stand out from typical country parks or gardens? Two key factors are legal protection and land use. 2
Legal protection
- Designated under specific legislation: National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949
Land use
- Living and working landscape where the local community work together to preserve the area with the government
Altogether, the UK has 15 national parks that are unevenly distributed across England, Scotland, and Wales. 3
The largest National Park: Cairngorms National Park in Scotland, covering 4,528 km².
The smallest National Park: The Broads in England, covering 303 km².
🌲 List of UK National Parks
Now, let's briefly review the unique features of every national park in the UK and visit recommendations, beginning with England, Scotland, and Wales.
🌟For rugged and majestic hills and lakes:
Peak District
Lake District
🌟For wide open moorland and a sense of raw wilderness:
Dartmoor
North York Moors
🌟For peaceful countryside vibes and rolling sceneries:
Yorkshire Dales
Exmoor
🌟For remote landscapes and wide skies:
Northumberland
The Broads
🌟For relaxing recreation and wildlife escapade:
New Forest
South Downs
Don't forget to explore these lovely islands in the UK.
🌟National Parks in Scotland
Loch Lomond and The Trossachs
Cairngorms
Meanwhile, discover these amazing rivers and lakes in the UK.
🌟National Parks in Wales
Snowdonia
Pembrokeshire Coast
Brecon Beacons
Explore these amazing mountains and hiking sites in the UK.
🎯 Conservation Efforts for UK National Parks
Despite some superb conservation initiatives, our national parks are nature-depleted and ecological shadows of what they could be.
Rewilding Britain, an organisation that works for the mass restoration of the nation’s ecosystems
To enjoy the abundance of wildlife and attractions of these national parks, there must be continuous and effective conservation efforts. These protected geographical sites are safeguarded to ensure that future generations can experience all of this natural and cultural heritage.
Some of the key ongoing conservation efforts include:
- Maintaining and restoring the habitats, whether it's woodlands, rivers, or coastal areas
- Constantly monitor the health of living organisms from plants, birds, mammals, and insects (biologist or vet inspection when needed)
- Enforce strict biosecurity measures for the well-being of organisms and biodiversity
- Educating the public through various community engagements on the importance of conservation
The necessary precaution taken to avoid the spread of pests and diseases in the national parks, especially when plants or animals are within the same vicinity. Example: They are widely practised when moving or planting new trees, or quarantining sick animals from healthy ones.
Learn more about forestry and biodiversity by visiting these forests in the UK.
🚀 Volunteering Opportunities to Revive National Parks
Depending on your current location and interests, you can also volunteer through programs offered by different national parks to do your part for biodiversity protection. 4
Not all forms of volunteering require long-term commitment, and tourism doesn’t always have to sit at odds with caring for and protecting the environment.
Tom Hind, chief executive officer at the North York Moors National Park Authority
Some volunteering examples that you can try out include:
- River fly monitoring
- Peat-depth mapping
- Ancient-tree surveying
- Dark-sky mapping
- Collecting and documenting oral histories
- Making videos about the national parks and many more
If you are unsure how to kickstart your volunteering journey, here are three common ways to participate:
For those who love meeting new people
- Becoming a friend of the national parks
- Organising and leading guided walks or litter-pick events
For those who love plants and animals
- Caring for the plants in the estates
- Becoming a gardener or a dog-welcome assistant
For those who love exploring the woods
- Well-suited for those who love biology and hands-on work
- Collecting tree seed, planting trees, and upkeeping the woodland
Fancy a sunny holiday by the water? Visit these amazing coastal areas in the UK.
🚶 Visitor Information
If you are planning a visit to any of the national parks soon (especially as a first-timer), here are some important things to note on visitor guidelines and facilities for visitors.
Many UK national parks provide their own Countryside Code guidance on visitor responsibilities while they are on the sites.
For example, the Lake District National Park uses the motto "Respect, Protect, and Enjoy" to guide visitors on how to respect the community who are living in the countryside (the park itself), protect the site by not littering, and enjoy the outdoors by checking the weather and route ahead. 5
Here's a checklist (step-by-step) if you are visiting a national park for the first time:
Step 1
Decide which area of the national park you're visiting
Based on your interests and location
Step 2
Check the park's access and restrictions
Verify with the park if there are any seasonal path closures
Step 3
Go through the Countryside Code thoroughly
The dos and don'ts, especially to respect the living community and wildlife
Step 4
Review the available facilities and services offered
Identify where the visitor centre, toilets, and food options are located
Step 5
Plan the routes and activities in advance
Look at various walking, cycling, or water activities options and familiarise yourself with the routes or timings (Book tickets ahead if necessary)
Step 6
Always check the weather and ground conditions
Review the weather forecast
Step 7
Pack appropriately and take safety measures
Gear up well for different weather and seasons, and make sure you have navigation and communication tools at all times
We hope you have enjoyed this article on all the national parks in the UK. If you are interested to learn more about various Geography topics with an experienced tutor, head to Superprof to start one-to-one tutoring with the best Geography tutors around you.
After reviewing the essential information of the tutors, you can contact your desired tutor via the messaging feature to book your first lesson with them! Most Superprof tutors offer their first lesson for free, so don't miss this amazing opportunity!
References
- People – National Parks Partnerships. (2026). Nationalparks.co.uk. https://nationalparks.co.uk/partnership-type/people
- Parks. (n.d.). National Parks. https://www.nationalparks.uk/parks/
- BBC Bitesize. (2022, January 10). Exploring the UK’s National Parks | KS2 Geography | Year 5 and Year 6 - BBC Bitesize. BBC Bitesize. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zs82m39#zm2q2v4
- How people-powered conservation is helping to revive the UK’s national parks. (2021, September 6). Travel. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/people-powered-conservation-helping-revive-uks-national-parks
- The Countryside Code. (2025). Lake District National Park. https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/plan-your-visit/countryside-code
Summarise with AI:
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
